1. 14
Computer Software

2. 14
Learning Objectives
Describe several important trends occurring in computer software.
Give examples of several major types of application and system software.
Explain the purpose of several popular software packages for end user productivity and collaborative computing.

3. Outline the functions of an operating system.14
Learning Objectives (continued)
Outline the functions of an operating system.
Describe the main uses of software programming languages and tools.

4. Application Software: End User Applications14
Section I
Application Software: End User Applications

5. 14 Software Types of software Application software for end users
System software
Application software for end users
Application-specific
General-purpose
Perform common information processing jobs
Sometimes known as productivity packages

6. Suites are a number of productivity packages bundled together14
Software Suites and Integrated Packages
Suites are a number of productivity packages bundled together
Microsoft Office
Lotus SmartSuite
Corel WordPerfect Office
Sun StarOffice

7. 14 Advantages of suites Disadvantages of suites Cost
Software Suites and Integrated Packages
(continued) 14
Advantages of suites
Cost
Similar graphical user interface
Share common tools
Programs are designed to work together
Disadvantages of suites
Large size
Many features never used by many end users

8. Software Suites and Integrated Packages
(continued) 14
Integrated Packages
Combine SOME of the features of several programs
Cannot do as much as individual packages or suites

9. 14
Web Browsers
Key software interface to the hyperlinked resources of the World Wide Web and the rest of the Internet
Internet Explorer
Netscape Communicator

10. 14 E-Mail Instant Messaging
Electronic Mail and Instant Messaging
Has changed the way people work and communicate
Instant Messaging
An /computer conferencing hybrid technology
Allows real time communication/collaboration

11. 14 Word Processing Desktop Publishing
Word Processing and Desktop Publishing
Word Processing
Has computerized the creation, editing, revision, and printing of documents.
Advanced features
Desktop Publishing
Design and print newsletters, brochures, manuals, and books
Page design process
Page makeup or page composition
WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)

12. Used for business analysis, planning, and modeling14
Electronic Spreadsheets
Used for business analysis, planning, and modeling
Involves designing its format and developing the relationships (formulas)

13. Allows end users to perform:14
Electronic Spreadsheets (continued)
Allows end users to perform:
What-if
Goal-seeking
Sensitivity analysis
Strength
Computation and calculation

14. Performs four primary tasks14
Database Management
Performs four primary tasks
Database development
Define/organize content, relationships, and structure of the data
Database Interrogation
Selectively retrieve and display information
Produce forms, reports, & other documents

15. Four primary tasks (continued)14
Database Management (continued)
Four primary tasks (continued)
Database maintenance
Add, delete, update, and correct the data
Application development
Develop prototypes of web pages, queries, forms, reports, and labels

16. 14 Strength Weakness Storage of large amounts of data
Database Management (continued)
Strength
Storage of large amounts of data
Weakness
Computation and calculation

17. Helps convert numeric data into graphic displays14
Presentation Graphics
Helps convert numeric data into graphic displays
Helps prepare multimedia presentations
Easy to use

18. For end user productivity and collaboration14
Personal Information Managers
For end user productivity and collaboration
Store, organize, and retrieve information
Information about customers
Appointments
Contact lists
Task lists
Schedules

19. 14 Groupware Collaboration software
Helps workgroups and teams work together to accomplish group assignments
Combines a variety of software features and functions
Discussion groups and databases
Scheduling
Task management
Audio and videoconferencing
Data sharing

20. 14
Other Business Software

21. System Software: Computer System Management14
Section II
System Software: Computer System Management

22. 14
System Software Overview
Programs that manage and support a computer system and its information processing activities
Serves as the software interface between computer networks and hardware and the application programs of end users

23. 14 Two major categories System management programs
System Software Overview (continued)
Two major categories
System management programs
Operating systems
Network management programs
Database management systems
System utilities
System development programs
Programming language translators & editors
CASE (computer-aided software engineering)

24. Integrated system of programs that14
Operating Systems
Integrated system of programs that
Manages the operations of the CPU
Controls the input/output and storage resources and activities of the computer system
Provides various support services as the computer executes application programs

25. Performs five basic functions14
Operating Systems (continued)
Performs five basic functions
Provides a user interface
Allows humans to communicate with the computer
Command-driven
Menu-driven
Graphical user interface

26. Five basic functions (continued)14
Operating Systems (continued)
Five basic functions (continued)
Resource management
Manages the hardware and networking resources of the system
Virtual memory capability

27. Five basic functions (continued)14
Operating Systems (continued)
Five basic functions (continued)
File management
Controls the creation, deletion, and access of files of data and programs
Keeps track of the physical location of files

28. Five basic functions (continued)14
Operating Systems (continued)
Five basic functions (continued)
Task management
Manages the accomplishment of the computing tasks of end users
Multitasking
Multiprogramming
Timesharing

29. 14 Operating Systems (continued) Popular Operating Systems
Windows
95, 98, ME NT
2000 XP
Popular operating systems (continued)
UNIX
Linux
Mac OS X

30. 14 Network Management Programs Perform functions such as
Automatically checking client PCs and video terminals for input/output activity
Assigning priorities to data communication requests from clients and terminals
Detecting and correcting transmission errors and other network problems
Sometimes functions as middleware that allows diverse networks to communicate with each other

31. 14 Database Management Systems
Controls the development, use, and maintenance of databases.
Helps organizations use their integrated collections of data records and files
Allows different user application programs to easily access the same database
Simplifies the process of retrieving information from databases

32. 14
Other System Management Programs
Utility Programs
Perform miscellaneous housekeeping and file conversion functions
Data backup
Data recovery
Virus protection
Data compression
Data defragmentation
Performance monitors and security monitors

33. 14
Programming Languages
Allows a programmer to develop the sets of instructions that constitute a computer program
Machine Language
First generation language
Written using binary codes unique to each computer

34. 14 Assembler Language Programming Languages (continued)
Second generation
Requires language translator programs called assemblers
Allows a computer to convert the instructions into machine instructions
Frequently called symbolic language

35. 14 High-level Languages Programming Languages (continued)
Third generation
Uses instructions, called statements, that use brief statements or arithmetic expressions
Uses translator programs called compilers or interpreters
Syntax and semantics

36. Fourth-generation Languages (4GLs)14
Programming Languages (continued)
Fourth-generation Languages (4GLs)
More nonprocedural and conversational than prior languages
Natural languages
Ease of use gained at the expense of some loss in flexibility

37. Object-Oriented Languages (OOP)14
Programming Languages (continued)
Object-Oriented Languages (OOP)
Ties data elements to the procedures or actions that will be performed on them into “objects”
Easier to use and more efficient for programming GUIs

38. 14
Programming Languages (continued)
HTML, XML, and Java
Important for building multimedia Web pages, websites, and Web-based applications
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
A page description language that creates hypertext or hypermedia documents

39. 14 XML (extensible Markup Language) Java
Programming Languages (continued)
XML (extensible Markup Language)
Describes the contents of web pages by applying identifying tags or contextual labels to the data
Makes the web site more searchable, sort able, and easier to analyze
Java
Designed for real-time, interactive, Web-based network applications
Applets

40. Helps programmers develop computer programs Two basic categories14
Programming Software
Helps programmers develop computer programs
Two basic categories
Programming language translators
Programming tools

41. Language Translator Programs14
Programming Software (continued)
Language Translator Programs
Assembler
Translates symbolic instruction codes into machine language instructions
Compiler
Translates high-level language statements
Interpreter
Translates and executes each statement in a program one at a time

42. 14 Programming Tools Programming Software (continued)
Programming editors and debuggers
Provides a computer-aided programming environment or workbench
Diagramming packages
Code generators
Libraries of reusable objects & code
Prototyping tools
CASE

43. 14
Discussion Questions
What major trends are occurring in software? What capabilities do you expect to see in future software packages?
How do the different roles of system software and application software affect you as a business end user? How do you see this changing in the future?

44. Should a Web browser be integrated into an operating system?14
Discussion Questions (continued)
Why is an operating system necessary? Why can’t an end user just load an application program in a computer and start computing?
Should a Web browser be integrated into an operating system?

45. 14
Discussion Questions (continued)
Are software suites, Web browsers, and groupware merging together? What are the implications for a business and its end users?
How are HTML, XML, and Java affecting business applications on the Web?

46. 14
Discussion Questions (continued)
Do you think Windows 2000 and Linux will surpass Unix and Netware as operating systems for network and Web servers?
Which application software packages are the most important for a business end user to know how to use?

47. 14
References
James A. O'Brien; George M. Marakas. Management Information Systems: Managing Information Technology in the Business Enterprise 6th Ed., Boston: McGraw-Hill/ Irwin,2004